Bale-staying device.



Patented Aug. 6, l90l.

J. T. COWLEY. BALE STAYING DEVICE.

(Application filed Aug. 3, 1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

gNo Modl.)

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No. 679,832. Patented Aug. 6, mm. J. T. COWLEY.

BALE STAYING DEVICE.

'lApplication filed Aug. 8, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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" UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PLANTERSCOMPRESS COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BALE-STAYING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,832, dated August6, 1901.

Application filed August 3, 1900. Serial No. 25,727. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. COWLEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and usefulBale; Staying Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bale-staying de vices.

One object of the invention is to provide a construction of bale-stayingdevice whichis simple and efficientin operation.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a construction andarrangement of balestaying device which permits of the ready and .easydisengagement of the stay from the bale while preventing the tearing ofthe edge of the bale where the stay engages it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction ofbale-staying device wherein the expansive force of the halo serves toretain the staying device in efficient engaging relation with the halo,thereby avoiding the use of binding bands or straps for the stayingdevices.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location, and arrangement, all as will be more fully hereinafter setforth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out inthe appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure l is a side elevation of abale-base and bale, showing the application thereto of a bale-stayingdevice constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlargedlongitudinal sectional view of a portion of a bale and balebase and astaying device constructed in accordance with my invention appliedthereto. Fig. 4c is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modifiedconstruction of bale-staying device embraced within the scope of myinvention. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the bale-stayingdevice detached from the bale.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

In the practical operation of compressing apparatus for fibrous or othermaterial it is necessary to provide means for temporarily binding orstaying the bales of compressed material while the same are beingremoved from the compressing apparatus in order to prevent the undueexpansion thereof before the permanent stays are applied to the removedbale. It has been common heretofore to employ bale-stays of variousconstructions having engaging devices at the ends thereof for engagementwith the ends of the bale or with reference to the ends of the bale. Insuch prior constructions, however, the tendency of the endwise expansionof the bale is to efiect a disengagement of the bale-stay from the endof the bale, thereby rendering necessary the employment of aretainingband, as indicated in dotted lines at A, Fig. 1, to prevent thestaying devices from being forced out of staying relation with respectto the bale. Moreover, after the bale has received its permanent staysthe removal of the staying devices or temporary holders, as in the priorconstructions, resulted in tearing the edges of the bale at the pointswhere the stays engaged the end of the bale. It is the special purposeof my present invention to provide a construction of staying devicewherein these objections are avoided, and in the accompanying drawings Ihave shown various forms of construction illustrativeof the genericfeatures of my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference-sign B designates thebale, and O the bale-base.

The bale-staying device includes a portion 10, which 1 will hereinafterdesignate the Fhook portion, and which portion is constructed to engageor to be secured in engaging relation with respect to one end of thebale. At its other end said hook portion is connected to an engagingpart which engages the opposite end of the bale, as will presently bemore fully explained. In practice I ar-' range the hooked end of thehook portion to engage the bale-base C and in such manner that theendwise expansion of the bale'will exert the power thereof in a mannerto efficiently hold the staying device in engaging relation with respectto the bale. This result may be accomplished in many difierent ways. Forinstance, and as shown in Fig. 3, as one form of construction andarrangement for accomplishing the desired result the hook portion 10 isprovided with a projection 12,

having a beveled orinclined surface, and the bale-base C is providedwith a depending rim or flange 5, provided with a corresponding inclinedor .beveled surface 6 and against which inclined surface the projection-12 bears, as clearly shown. The bearing-surfaces of the projection 12and rim or flange are inclined or beveled inwardly, as clearly shown. Atits extremity the hook portion is provided with a heel 13, arranged totake bearing against a ledge 7 of the bale-base From this constructionit will be readily seen that any endwise expansion of the bale exertinga longitudinal pull upon the portion 10 of the bale-stay, through'theengagement of the ends or the bale-staywith the bale, will serve to drawthe projection 12 tightly against the beveled or inclined surface 6 ofthe flange, and hence to force the main body. portion of the hookportion 10 of the stay toward the bale, and hence overcoming anytendency of the engaging devices at the other 7 end of the stay frombeing forced ofi or out of engaging relation with respect to the end ofthe bale, and thus avoiding the necessity of employing a temporaryretaining strap or band, as indicated in dotted lines at A, Fig. 1.- Itis obvious that other constructions may be, devised for accomplishingthis same result.- For instance,in the form shown in Figs; 4 and 5theportion 115' of the bale-staying device is provided at one endthereof with a hook 12, having aninclined or beveled surface similar tothe inclined or beveled surface of projection 12, above described withreference to Fig. 3, and the bale-base O is provided with a suitableflange or projection 34, having a similarly inclined and cooperatingsurface, over which the hook 12 engages and against which said hookbears, the surface of. projection 34 being inclined or beveled inwardly,so as to cause the endwise expansion of the bale to exert through thebale-staying device a drawing action upon the latter to carry or forcethe same inwardly ortoward the bale, and in order to retain the stay inplace a hook 29 is pivoted upon the portion 10 of the. stay, which hookis arranged to engage a projecting flange or ledge 30 of the bale-base.A rod 32 is connected at one end to the hook 29 and at the other end toalever 31,said rod being guided in any suitable manner, as by means of akeeper 33. The lever 31 is arranged to be engaged by the edge ofprojection 34 of the bale-base, when the staying device is applied inengaging relation with respect thereto, so as to draw the hook 29 downinto engagement with flange or ledge 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, theengagement of said hook was and flange or ledge forming abearing for thebale-staying device and serving to hold the same in engaging relationwith respect to the bale-base and bale. It is obvious with thisconstruction that the bearing-surface of projection 34 need notnecessarily be inclined, as the engagement of hook 29 will serve thepurpose of retaining the bale-stay in engaging relation and prevent thesame from being forced off the bale. The greater the endwise expansionof the bale the tighter the balestay is clamped or held thereto.

I have mentioned above that the portion 10 of the bale-stay is connectedat its opposite end to suitable means for engagement with the other endof the bale. It is desirable that this engaging device should be soconstructed. as to permit removal or disengagement thereof from the endof the bale without tearing or injuring such end, and it'is alsodesirable to provide means for efliciently looking such device inengaging relation with the bale. My invention therefore. includes theprovision of means for accomplishing these results, and in Figs. 1, 2,and 3 I have shown, as illustrative of the broad ideas and principles ofmy invention, a form of construction embodying the same and comprising aframe 9, to which the hook portion 10 is pivoted, as at 11. Also pivotedto frame 9, as at 14, is what I will hereinafter term a balewith aprojecting portion 16, which consti tutes the portion which engages theend of the bale. Suitably pivoted upon frame 9, as at 20, is a lever 19,carrying a projection 21, ofis'et somewhat from the pivot about whichlever 19 swings. A spring 25 is connected at one end, as at 23, to anextension of lever 19 and at the other end to a pin or projection 24 onframe 9, the tension of said spring being constantly exerted to rockoriswing lever 19, so as to carry or hold projection'21 in engagementwith the heel portion of the stay-head 15.. In practice and inorder toreduce. friction I mount an antifriction-roller'22 upon projection 21,which roller forms the bearing. surface for engagement withthe heel ofthe stay-head, and I form such heel with a shoulder, as at 26, withwhich'such roller engages. From this arrangement it'will be readilyunderstood that when head 15 is adjusted into position for the blade orholder 16 thereof to engage the end of the bale the projection 21 or theroller 22 carried thereby, engaging with shoulder 26, will lockthe'bale-head against rotation about its pivot 14, and the expansiveforce of the bale against the under side or surface of the holder 16serves to more tightly lock the bale-head. The greater such expansiveforce the tighter the lock.

- In order that the bale-stay head may be maintained pressed inwardly ortoward the bale, I arrange a spring 27 to bear at one end against frame9and at the other end against the hook portion 10 of the staying device.

vBy this means the stay-head is constantly head 15, said head beingformed or provided pressed toward the bale and-the hook portion 10 isalso maintained pressed toward the balebase with the hookor projectionthereof always in line with the lip of the bale-base when the stay-h eadis not projected over the end of the bale, thus allowing the hook orprojection to catch under the lip or flange of the bale-base before thehead is forced into position over the other end of the bale.

In order to detach or remove the bale-staying device from a bale-as, forinstance, after the bale has been removed and has its permanent staysapplied thereto-a suitable handle is engaged with lever 19 and saidlever is rocked about its pivot and against-the action of spring 25,thereby causing the roller 22 or projection 21 to become disengaged fromshoulder 26 of the stay-head. This release of roller 22 from shoulder 26allows the stay-head to become released from the bale, such releaseresulting in the stay dropping slightly, when it may be entirelyremoved. The released position of the stay-head is indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1. When the stay-head is rocked or dropped back into theposition indicated in said dotted lines, the cam-surface 28 of the headrests on roller 22 of the lever, so that when the lever is released fromdownward pressure the spring 25 will return said lever to initialposition and which returning movement will cause the head 15 to be againrocked into position for the roller 22 to engage shoulder 26.

I have shown a locking-bolt associated with the stay-head and comprisinga longitudinally-movable bolt 17, slotted for the passage therethroughof pivot 14, which pivot serves as a guide for such bolt. A spring 18operates to maintain the bolt projected. This bolt, however, forms nopart of my present invention.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the stay-head 15 is indicated only in a conventionalillustration, it being obvious that the construction of the stay-headmay be varied at pleasure.

The operation of the apparatus forming my invention will be readily andfully understood from the foregoing description.

Having now set forth the object and natureof my invention and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof and having described suchconstruction, its purpose, function, and mode of operation, what I claimas new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. Ina bale-staying device composed of two portions suitably connectedtogether, the com bination of a bale-base, the portions of the stayingdevice arranged to respectively e'ngage the end of the bale and saidbase, and means operated by the endwise expansion of the bale fordrawing said staying device into closer engagement with the bale andbase, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In abale-staying device composed of two portions longitudinallymovable with respect to each other, in combination with a balebase, andmeans operating to tighten the grasp of the bale-staying device upon thebale to retain the same thereon as the bale expands, as and for thepurpose set forth,

3. In abale-staying device composed of two portions longitudinallymovable with reference to each other, each portion adapted to beconnected with an end of the bale, in combination with a bale-base, andmeans operating to draw the staying device in closer restaying deviceinto closer engagement with the ends of the bale under the influence ofthe expansive tendency of the bale, as and for the purpose set forth.

. 5. In a bale-staying device composed of two portions longitudinallymovable with reference to each other, one of which is adapted to graspthe top of the bale and the other of which is adapted to engage abale-base and is provided with an inclined surface, in con1- binationwith such bale-base havinga correspondingly-inclined surface adapted toforce the stay toward the bale and to maintain engagement of the staywith the bale under the expansive action of such bale, as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In abale-staying device composed of two portions, one of suchportions provided with a hook for engaging the bale and the other ofwhich is provided with an inclined sur face, in combination of abale-base having a rim or flange provided with a cooperating inclinedsurface and an additional hearing or connection between said stay andbalebase, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a bale-staying device composed of two portions, one of which hasmeans for engaging the upper end of the bale, and the other a hookportion, in combination with a balebase affording a bearing for the saidhook. portion at two points; substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

8. In a bale-staying device composed of two portions, the upper of whichhas means for engagement with the bale at one end, and the lower ofwhich has a hook, in combination with a bale-base adapted to be engagedby the hook, and having a bearing at another pointin the length thereoffor said hook; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a bale-stay composed ofpivotally-connected portions, and means for locking said portionsagainst relatively swinging or rocking move ments, as and for thepurpose set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the class described,

' a bale-stay including pivota11y connected por tions, one ofsaidportions provided with a shoulder, in'combination' with means forengaging said shouiderand 'yieldingly locking said portion againstswinging or rocking movement, as a ud for the purpose set forth. 11. Inan apparatus of the class described, a bale-stay includingpivotallyponnected portions, one of said portions providedwith a hook orprojection arranged to engage the end of the bale, in combination with alever provided with a projection, said lever being also pivot-allymounted in position for said lever to engage said hook portion and lockthe same against pivotal movement, as and for the purpose set forth. 7 Vp,

12,. In an apparatus of the class described, a pivotallymountedbale-stay head, a pivotally-m ounted lever having a projection ar.ranged to engage said head, and means for yieidingly maintaining saidprojection in engagement with said head, as and for the purpose setforth. p I a r 13. In an apparatus of theclass described, I apivotally-mounted bale-stay head, saidihead provided with a shoulder, apivotall'y-fmounted leverhavinga projection arranged to engage saidshoulder, and a spring for normallyr and for the purpose set forth. a I

14. In. a hale staying device, a frame, a hook portion and astay-head,respectively pivoted upon said frame, as and for the purpose set forth.v .i i

15. A bale-stayingdevice, comprising a pressing said proje ctionagainstsaid head,was

hook portion and a stay head, said hook'portion and head being pivotaliyconnected, and

means for maintaining said hook portion and I head in suitabl'ealine'innt, "as and for the purpose setforth v I ence of the subscribingwitnesses.

\ i JAMES T; COWLEY. Witnesses;

WMI. M. RHEEM, R. G. BLANC.

